System and method for receiving broadcast content on a mobile platform during travel

ABSTRACT

A vehicle information system for passenger vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The vehicle information system includes a broadband communication system with a broadband antenna system and a broadband control system. Exploiting the advent of high-speed connectivity solutions, the vehicle information system supports a low-cost, high-capacity bidirectional data connection with a terrestrial content system and thereby can be established as another node on the “Worldwide Net.” The vehicle information system likewise provides wireless access points for communicating with passengers&#39; personal media devices. As desired, the vehicle information system can support mobile telephone connectivity and/or presentation of live integrated digital television (IDTV) programming. The vehicle information system thereby provides enhanced information, entertainment, and communication services during travel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/974,678, filed on Sep. 24, 2007. Priority to the provisionalpatent applications is expressly claimed, and the disclosure of theprovisional application is hereby incorporated herein by reference inits entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle information systemsand more particularly, but not exclusively, to aircraft in-flightentertainment systems suitable for receiving and selectably presentingviewing content broadcast from a terrestrial content source.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, often include vehicleinformation systems for satisfying passenger demand for access toviewing content, such as entertainment, information content, or otherviewing content, while traveling.

Conventional passenger information (or entertainment) systems typicallyinclude overhead cabin video systems or seat-based video systems withindividual controls such that viewing content is selectable by thepassengers. The viewing content can include audio and video content thatis derived from a variety of content sources. Prerecorded viewingcontent, such as motion pictures and music, can be provided by internalcontent sources, such as audio and video players, that are installedaboard the vehicle. The conventional passenger information systemslikewise can include an antenna system for receiving viewing content,such as live television programming and/or Internet content, transmittedfrom one or more content providers (or sources) that are external to,and/or remote from, the vehicle.

Such conventional passenger information systems, however, suffer fromnumerous disadvantages. Some passengers find the passenger informationsystems to be complicated to operate and the viewing content difficultto enjoy. Selection of the viewing content, for example, can provedifficult due to the awkward placement and operation of the usercontrols. Similarly, the video systems of the passenger informationsystems typically are located distally from the passenger controls, suchas overhead and/or on an opposing seatback. In addition, some or all ofthe passengers traveling aboard the vehicle can be inhibited fromenjoying the viewing content if one or more of the video systems fails.

Further, passenger demand for viewing content is continually evolving.Not only do passengers want to access the most current viewing content,such as live television programming and the latest games, but they alsorequire a more extensive selection of information products and services,such as Internet access and in-transit shopping, to be available.Passengers likewise wish to view non-public (or personal) viewingcontent, such as viewing content available from a customer or corporateIntranet system, during travel. Conventional passenger informationsystems, however, are limited by their fixed hardware technology andcannot easily be adapted to accommodate changing passenger viewingcontent and other information preferences.

In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved passengerinformation system and method for integrating passengers' personal mediadevices into the passenger information system in an effort to overcomethe aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of conventional passengerinformation systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment ofan information system, wherein the information is in communication witha content system.

FIG. 2A is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating the informationsystem of FIG. 1, wherein the information system comprises a vehicleinformation system installed aboard an automobile.

FIG. 2B is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating the vehicleinformation system of FIG. 2A, wherein the vehicle information system isinstalled aboard an aircraft and is configured to communicate with thecontent system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating one preferredembodiment of a distribution system for the vehicle information systemsof FIGS. 2A-B.

FIG. 4A is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating a passenger cabinof a vehicle, wherein the vehicle information system of FIGS. 2A-B hasbeen installed.

FIG. 4B is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment ofthe vehicle information system of FIG. 4A, wherein the vehicleinformation system is in communication with the personal media device ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary top-level drawing illustrating an embodiment ofthe content system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of thevehicle information system of FIGS. 2A-B, wherein the vehicleinformation system includes a broadband system for supporting broadbandcommunications with the content system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of thevehicle information system of FIG. 6, wherein the vehicle informationsystem is suitable for use as a stand-alone system.

FIG. 7B is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the vehicle information system of FIG. 6, wherein thevehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard anaircraft with a narrow-body configuration.

FIG. 7C is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the vehicle information system of FIG. 6, wherein thevehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard anaircraft with a wide-body configuration.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment of awireless access point for the vehicle information system of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating an embodiment of awireless access point for the vehicle information system of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10A is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an embodiment ofthe vehicle information system of FIG. 6, wherein the vehicleinformation system includes a telephone system.

FIG. 10B is an exemplary detail drawing illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the vehicle information system of FIG. 6, wherein thevehicle information system includes an integrated digital television(IDTV) system.

It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and thatelements of similar structures or functions are generally represented bylike reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout thefigures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended tofacilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures donot illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do notlimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Since currently-available passenger information systems are complicatedto operate, limited by fixed hardware technology, and cannot easily beadapted to accommodate changing passenger viewing content and otherinformation preferences, an information system that communicates with atleast one remote content system can prove desirable and provide a basisfor a wide range of system applications, such as vehicle informationsystems for use aboard automobiles, aircraft, and other types ofvehicles during travel. This result can be achieved, according to oneembodiment disclosed herein, by an information system 100 as illustratedin FIG. 1.

Turning to FIG. 1, the information system 100 is shown as beingconfigured to communicate with at least one content system 400. Whendisposed at a remote location relative to the content system 400, theinformation system 100 can exploit the advent of high-speed connectivitysolutions, such as a broadband connectivity solution, to establish andmaintain a low-cost, high-capacity data connection with the contentsystem 400. The information system 100 thereby can be established asanother node on the “Worldwide Net.” The information system 100 canadvantageously enhance a system user's experience, increase operationalefficiency, and create a source of revenue for a system operator.

Each content system 400 can be provided in the manner set forth in theco-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORDOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CONTENT ON MOBILE PLATFORMS,” Ser. No.11/123,327, filed on May 6, 2005; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE ANDMETHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No.11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORRECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONALTRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005; “SYSTEM AND METHODFOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH A VEHICLE INFORMATIONSYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; and “PORTABLE USERCONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No.12/210,689, filed on Sep. 15, 2008, which are assigned to the assigneeof the present application and the respective disclosures of which arehereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

When in communication with the content system 400, the informationsystem 100 supports two-way communications with the content system 400.The information system 100, for example, can exchange viewing content210 (shown in FIGS. 2A-B) with the content system 400. The viewingcontent 210 can include audio viewing content and/or video viewingcontent and can be communicated (or downloaded) from the content system400 to the information system 100 for presentation via a videopresentation system 362 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) and/or an audiopresentation system 364 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) of the information system100. Viewing content 210 likewise can be can be communicated (oruploaded) to the content system 400 from the information system 100, asdesired.

The viewing content 210 can comprise any conventional type of audioand/or video viewing content, such as stored (or time-delayed) viewingcontent and/or live (or real-time) viewing content, in the manner setforth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent applications,entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565,filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FORPRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed onJun. 15, 2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCASTCONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No.11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. Exemplary viewing content 210 caninclude television programming content, music content, podcast content,photograph album content, audiobook content, and/or movie contentwithout limitation.

As desired, the viewing content 210 can include geographical informationin the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,661,353, entitled “METHOD FORDISPLAYING INTERACTIVE FLIGHT MAP INFORMATION,” which is assigned to theassignee of the present application and the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternatively,and/or additionally, to entertainment content, such as live satellitetelevision programming and/or live satellite radio programming, theviewing content likewise can include two-way communications, such asreal-time access to the Internet 310C (shown in FIG. 2B) and/ortelecommunications in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,484,entitled “TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE ON COMMERCIALAIRCRAFT AND OTHER VEHICLES,” which is assigned to the assignee of thepresent application and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. It is understood that the exemplaryviewing content as shown and described herein are not exhaustive and areprovided herein for purposes of illustration only and not for purposesof limitation.

Although the information system 100 can be disposed in a fixed location,such as a building, the information system 100 likewise canadvantageously be applied in portable system applications. Turning toFIGS. 2A-B, the information system 100 is shown as comprising a vehicleinformation system 300 that can be configured for installation aboard awide variety of vehicles 390. Exemplary types of vehicles can include anautomobile 390A (shown in FIG. 2A), an aircraft 390B (shown in FIG. 2B),a bus, a recreational vehicle, a boat, and/or a locomotive, or any othertype of passenger vehicle without limitation. If installed on anaircraft 390B as illustrated in FIG. 2B, for example, the vehicleinformation system 300 can comprise a conventional aircraft passengerin-flight entertainment system, such as the Series 2000, 3000, eFX,and/or eX2 in-flight entertainment system as manufactured by PanasonicAvionics Corporation (formerly known as Matsushita Avionics SystemsCorporation) of Lake Forest, Calif.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-B, the vehicle information system 300 comprises atleast one conventional content source 310 and one or more user (orpassenger) interface systems 360 that communicate via a real-timecontent distribution system 320. Each content source 310 can be providedin the manner set forth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patentapplications “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No.10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORMANAGING CONTENT ON MOBILE PLATFORMS,” Ser. No. 11/123,327, filed on May6, 2005; entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTINGVIEWING CONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15,2005; and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ONA MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378,filed on Nov. 7, 2005; “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLEMEDIA DEVICE WITH A VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624,filed on Sep. 15, 2008; and “PORTABLE USER CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FORVEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,689, filed on Sep. 15,2008.

The content sources 310 can include one or more internal contentsources, such as server system 310A, that are installed aboard thevehicle 390 and/or remote (or terrestrial) content sources 310B that canbe external from the vehicle 390. The server system 310A can be providedas an information system controller for providing overall system controlfunctions for the vehicle information system 300 and/or at least onemedia (or file) server system, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-B), forstoring preprogrammed content and/or downloaded viewing content 210D, asdesired. The server system 310A can include, and/or communicate with,one or more conventional peripheral media storage systems (not shown),including optical media devices, such as a digital video disk (DVD)system or a compact disk (CD) system, and/or magnetic media systems,such as a video cassette recorder (VCR) system or a hard disk drive(HDD) system, of any suitable kind, for storing the preprogrammedcontent and/or the downloaded viewing content 210D.

Being configured to distribute and/or present the viewing content 210provided by one or more selected content sources 310, such as a contentsystem 400, the vehicle information system 300 can communicate with thecontent sources 310 in real time and in any conventional manner,including via wired and/or wireless communications. The vehicleinformation system 300 and the terrestrial content source 310B, forexample, can communicate in any conventional wireless manner, includingdirectly and/or indirectly via an intermediate communication system 370,such as a satellite communication system 370A. The vehicle informationsystem 300 thereby can receive download viewing content 210D from aselected terrestrial content source 310B and/or transmit upload viewingcontent 210U, including navigation and other control instructions, tothe terrestrial content source 310B. As desired, the terrestrial contentsource 310B can be configured to communicate with other terrestrialcontent sources (not shown). The terrestrial content source 310B isshown in FIG. 2B as providing access to the Internet 310C. Althoughshown and described as comprising the satellite communication system370A for purposes of illustration, it is understood that thecommunication system 370 can comprise any conventional type of wirelesscommunication system, such as a cellular communication system (notshown) and/or an Aircraft Ground Information System (AGIS) communicationsystem (not shown).

To facilitate communications with the terrestrial content sources 310B,the vehicle information system 300 can include an antenna system 330 anda transceiver system 340 for receiving the viewing content from theremote (or terrestrial) content sources 310B as shown in FIGS. 2A-B. Theantenna system 330 preferably is disposed outside the vehicle 390, suchas an exterior surface 394 of a fuselage 392 of the aircraft 390B. Theantenna system 330 can receive viewing content 210 from the terrestrialcontent source 310B and provide the received viewing content 210, asprocessed by the transceiver system 340, to a computer system 350 of thevehicle information system 300. The computer system 350 can provide thereceived viewing content 210 to the media (or content) server system310A and/or to one or more of the user interfaces 360, as desired.Although shown and described as being separate systems for purposes ofillustration, the computer system 350 and the media server system 310Acan be at least partially integrated.

The vehicle information system elements, including the content sources310 and the user interface systems 360, are shown in FIGS. 2A-B ascommunicating via the content distribution system 320. FIG. 3illustrates an exemplary content distribution system 320 for the vehicleinformation system 300. The content distribution system 320 of FIG. 3couples, and supports communication between a headend system 310H, whichincludes the content sources 310, and the plurality of user interfacesystems 360. The distribution system 320 as shown in FIG. 3 is providedin the manner set forth co-pending U.S. patent application, entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATION SIGNALS VIA A DATADISTRIBUTION NETWORK,” Ser. No. 11/277,896, filed on Mar. 29, 2006, andin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,596,647, 5,617,331, and 5,953,429, each entitled“INTEGRATED VIDEO AND AUDIO SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FORUSE ON COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT AND OTHER VEHICLES,” which are assigned tothe assignee of the present application and the respective disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

The content distribution system 320, for example, can be provided as aconventional wired and/or wireless communication network, including atelephone network, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a campus area network (CAN), personal area network (PAN) and/or awireless local area network (WLAN), of any kind. Exemplary wirelesslocal area networks include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks inaccordance with Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Standard 802.11 and/or wireless metropolitan-area networks (MANs), whichalso are known as WiMax Wireless Broadband, in accordance with IEEEStandard 802.16. Preferably being configured to support high datatransfer rates, the content distribution system 320 preferably comprisesa high-speed Ethernet network, such as any type of Fast Ethernet (suchas 100Base-X and/or 100Base-T) communication network and/or Gigabit(such as 1000Base-X and/or 1000Base-T) Ethernet communication network,with a typical data transfer rate of at least approximately one hundredmegabits per second (100 Mbps). To achieve high data transfer rates in awireless communications environment, free-space optics (or laser)technology, millimeter wave (or microwave) technology, and/orUltra-Wideband (UWB) technology can be utilized to supportcommunications among the various system resources, as desired.

As desired, the distribution system 320 likewise can include a networkmanagement system (not shown) provided in the manner set forth inco-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORIMPROVING NETWORK RELIABILITY,” Ser. No. 10/773,523, filed on Feb. 6,2004, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING NETWORKRELIABILITY,” Ser. No. 11/086,510, filed on Mar. 21, 2005, which areassigned to the assignee of the present application and the respectivedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the distribution system 320 can be provided asa plurality of area distribution boxes (ADBs) 322, a plurality of floordisconnect boxes (FDBs) 323, and a plurality of seat electronics boxes(SEBs) (and/or premium seat electronics boxes (PSEBs)) 324 beingconfigured to communicate in real time via a plurality of wired and/orwireless communication connections 325. The distribution system 320likewise can include a switching system 321 for providing an interfacebetween the distribution system 320 and the headend system 310H. Theswitching system 321 can comprise a conventional switching system, suchas an Ethernet switching system, and is configured to couple the headendsystem 310H with the area distribution boxes 322. Each of the areadistribution boxes 322 is coupled with, and communicates with, theswitching system 321.

Each of the area distribution boxes 322, in turn, is coupled with, andcommunicates with, at least one floor disconnect box 323. Although thearea distribution boxes 322 and the associated floor disconnect boxes323 can be coupled in any conventional configuration, the associatedfloor disconnect boxes 323 preferably are disposed in a star networktopology about a central area distribution box 322 as illustrated inFIG. 3. Each floor disconnect box 323 is coupled with, and services, aplurality of daisy-chains of seat electronics boxes 324. The seatelectronics boxes 324, in turn, are configured to communicate with theuser interface systems 360. Each seat electronics box 324 can supportone or more of the user interface systems 360.

The switching systems 321, the area distribution boxes (ADBs) 322, thefloor disconnect boxes (FDBs) 323, the seat electronics boxes (SEBs)(and/or premium seat electronics boxes (PSEBs)) 324, and other systemresources of the content distribution system 320 preferably are providedas line replaceable units (LRUs) (not shown). Exemplary other systemresources of the content distribution system 320 can include a broadbandantenna system 512, a broadband control system 514 (shown in FIG. 6), awireless access point 368 (shown in FIG. 6), a crew terminal (or panel)524 (shown in FIGS. 7A-C), an aircraft interface system 522 (shown inFIG. 6), and/or a system controller 530 (shown in FIG. 7B). The use ofLRUs facilitate maintenance of the vehicle information system 300because a defective LRU can simply be removed from the vehicleinformation system 300 and replaced with a new (or different) LRU. Thedefective LRU thereafter can be repaired for subsequent installation.Advantageously, the use of LRUs can promote flexibility in configuringthe content distribution system 320 by permitting ready modification ofthe number, arrangement, and/or configuration of the system resources ofthe content distribution system 320. The content distribution system 320likewise can be readily upgraded by replacing any obsolete LRUs with newLRUs.

As desired, the floor disconnect boxes 323 advantageously can beprovided as routing systems and/or interconnected in the manner setforth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent application,entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING COMMUNICATION SIGNALS VIA A DATADISTRIBUTION NETWORK,” Ser. No. 11/277,896, filed on Mar. 29, 2006. Thedistribution system 320 can include at least one FDB internal portbypass connection 325A and/or at least one SEB loopback connection 325B.Each FDB internal port bypass connection 325A is a communicationconnection 325 that permits floor disconnect boxes 323 associated withdifferent area distribution boxes 322 to directly communicate. Each SEBloopback connection 325B is a communication connection 325 that directlycouples the last seat electronics box 324 in each daisy-chain of seatelectronics boxes 324 for a selected floor disconnect box 323 as shownin FIG. 3. Each SEB loopback connection 325B therefore forms a loopbackpath among the daisy-chained seat electronics boxes 324 coupled with therelevant floor disconnect box 323.

Returning to FIGS. 2A-B, the user interface systems 360 are provided forselecting viewing content 210 and for presenting the selected viewingcontent 210. As desired, the user interface systems 360 can compriseconventional passenger interfaces and can be provided in the manner setforth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent application,entitled “PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWINGCONTENT DURING TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005, aswell as in the manner set forth in the co-pending U.S. patentapplication, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING HIGH-QUALITYVIDEO TO PASSENGERS ON A MOBILE PLATFORM,” Ser. No. 60/673,171, filed onApr. 19, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIG. 4A provides a view of a passenger cabin 380 of a passenger vehicle390, such as the automobile 390A (shown in FIG. 2A) and/or the aircraft390B (shown in FIG. 2B), aboard which the vehicle information system 300has been installed. The passenger cabin 380 is illustrated as includinga plurality of passenger seats 382, and each passenger seat 382 isassociated with a selected user interface system 360. Each userinterface system 360 can include a video interface system 362 and/or anaudio interface system 364. Exemplary video interface systems 362 caninclude overhead cabin display systems 362A with central controls,seatback display systems 362B or armrest display systems (not shown)each with individualized controls, crew display panels, and/or handheldpresentation systems. The audio interface systems 364 can be provided inany conventional manner, including an overhead speaker system 364A, thehandheld presentation systems, and/or headphones coupled with an audiojack provided, for example, at an armrest 388 of the passenger seat 382.A speaker system likewise can be associated with the passenger seat 382,such as a speaker system 364B disposed within a base 384B of thepassenger seat 382 and/or a speaker system 364C disposed within aheadrest 384C of the passenger seat 382. In a preferred embodiment, theaudio interface system 364 can include an optional noise-cancellationsystem for further improving sound quality produced by the audiointerface system 364.

The video interface systems 362 and the audio interface systems 364 canbe installed at any suitable cabin surface, such as a seatback 386, wall396, ceiling, and/or bulkhead, or an armrest 388 of a passenger seat 382in any conventional manner including via a mounting system 363 providedin the manner set forth co-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING USER INTERFACE DEVICES,” Ser. No.11/828,193, filed on Jul. 25, 2007, and entitled “USER INTERFACE DEVICEAND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT,” Ser. No. 11/835,371, filedon Aug. 7, 2007, which are assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication and the respective disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the user interface system 360 likewise can includean input system 366 for permitting the user (or passenger) tocommunicate with the vehicle information system 300, such as via anexchange of control signals 220. For example, the input system 366 canpermit the user to enter one or more user instructions 230 forcontrolling the operation of the vehicle information system 300.Illustrative user instructions 230 can include instructions forinitiating communication with the content source 310, instructions forselecting viewing content 210 for presentation, and/or instructions forcontrolling the presentation of the selected viewing content 210. If afee is required for accessing the viewing content 210, paymentinformation likewise can be entered via the input system 366.

The input system 366 can be provided in any conventional manner andtypically includes one or more switches (or pushbuttons), such as akeyboard or a keypad, and/or a pointing device, such as a mouse,trackball, or stylus. As desired, the input system 366 can be at leastpartially integrated with, and/or separable from, the associated videointerface system 362 and/or audio interface system 364. For example, thevideo interface system 362 and the input system 366 can be provided as atouchscreen display system. The input system 366 likewise can includeone or more input ports (not shown) for coupling a peripheral inputdevice (not shown), such as a full-size computer keyboard, an externalmouse, and/or a game pad, with the vehicle information system 300.

Preferably, at least one of the user interface systems 360 includes awired and/or wireless access point 368, such as a conventionalcommunication port (or connector), for coupling a personal media device200 (shown in FIG. 4B) with the vehicle information system 300.Passengers (not shown) who are traveling aboard the vehicle 390 therebycan enjoy personally-selected viewing content during travel. The accesspoint 368 is located proximally to an associated passenger seat 382 andcan be provided at any suitable cabin surface, such as a seatback 386,wall 396, ceiling, and/or bulkhead.

Turning to FIG. 4B, the vehicle information system 300 is shown ascommunicating with one or more personal media devices 200. Each personalmedia device 200 can store the audio and/or video viewing content 210and can be provided as a handheld device, such as a laptop computer, apalmtop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), cellulartelephone, an iPod® digital electronic media device, an iPhone® digitalelectronic media device, and/or a MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3) device.Illustrative personal media devices 200 are shown and described in theco-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORDOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled“PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURINGTRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORMDURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7,2005; “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH AVEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15,2008; “MEDIA DEVICE INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATIONSYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,636, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; “MEDIA DEVICEINTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No.12/210,652, filed on Sep. 15, 2008; and “PORTABLE USER CONTROL DEVICEAND METHOD FOR VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,689, filedon Sep. 15, 2008, which are assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication and the respective disclosures of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The illustrated personal media devices 200 each include a video displaysystem 240 for visually presenting the viewing content 210 and an audiosystem 250 for audibly presenting the viewing content 210. Each personalmedia device 200 can include a user control system 260, which can beprovided in any conventional manner and typically includes one or moreswitches (or pushbuttons), such as a keyboard or a keypad, and/or apointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, or stylus. The personalmedia devices 200 thereby can select desired viewing content 210 andcontrol the manner in which the selected viewing content 210 is receivedand/or presented.

The personal media devices 200 likewise include a communication port (orconnector) 270. The communication port 270 enables the personal mediadevices 200 to communicate with the vehicle information system 300 viathe access points 368 of the user interface systems 360. As illustratedwith personal media device 200A, the communication port 270 and theaccess points 368 can supported wireless communications; whereas,support for wired communications between the communication port 270 andthe access points 368 via a communication cable assembly 500 is shownwith personal media device 200B. When the communication port 270 and theaccess points 368 are in communication, the vehicle information system300 supports a simple manner for permitting the associated personalmedia device 200 to be integrated with the vehicle information system300 using a user-friendly communication interface.

When the personal media device 200 and the vehicle information system300 are in communication, the vehicle information system 300 can performa plurality of integration tasks simultaneously, enabling the personalmedia device 200 to become fully integrated with the vehicle informationsystem 300 via a selected access point 368. The system elements of thevehicle information system 300 and the personal media device 200 therebybecome interchangeable. The personal media device 200 likewise canreceive control signals (or commands) 220 and/or operating power 220Pfrom the vehicle information system 300. Thereby, the personal mediadevice 200 advantageously can become a seamless part of the vehicleinformation system 300.

For example, user instructions 230 (shown in FIGS. 2A-B) for controllingthe operation of the vehicle information system 300 can be provided viathe input system 366 of the vehicle information system 300 and/or theuser control system 260 of the personal media device 200. In otherwords, the input system 366 of the vehicle information system 300 and/orthe user control system 260 of the personal media device 200 can be usedto select viewing content 210 and control the manner in which theselected viewing content 210 is received and/or presented. The selectedviewing content 210 can be provided by a relevant content source 310(shown in FIGS. 2A-B) of the vehicle information system 300 and/or bystorage media (not shown) disposed within the personal media device 200.A video portion of the selected viewing content 210 thereby can bepresented via the video presentation system 362 of the vehicleinformation system 300 and/or the video display system 240 of thepersonal media device 200. The audio presentation system 364 of thevehicle information system 300 and/or the audio system 250 of thepersonal media device 200 can be used to present an audio portion of theselected viewing content 210. If the video display system 240 of thepersonal media device 200 is much smaller than the video presentationsystem 362 of the vehicle information system 300, a passenger may preferto view the selected viewing content 210 via the larger videopresentation system 362.

When no longer in use and/or direct physical contact with the personalmedia device 200 is not otherwise required, the personal media device200 can be stored at the passenger seat 382. For example, the passengerseat 382 can include a storage compartment 389 for providing storage ofthe personal media device 200. The storage compartment 389 can beprovided in any conventional manner and at any suitable portion of thepassenger seat 382. As illustrated with passenger seat 382B, thepersonal media device 200 can be placed in a storage pocket 389B formedin the armrest 388 of the passenger seat 382B. The storage compartment389 likewise can be provided on the seatback 386 and/or the headrest 384of the passenger seat 382. Storage compartment 389A of passenger seat382A, for example, is shown as being formed on the lower seatback 386 ofthe passenger seat 382A. As desired, the storage compartment 389 cancomprise an overhead storage compartment, a door storage compartment, astorage compartment provided underneath the passenger seat 382, or anyother type of conventional storage compartment, such as a glovecompartment, trunk, or closet, available in the passenger vehicle 390.

Turning to FIG. 5, the vehicle information system 300 is shown as beingdisposed in an aircraft 390B and as being in communication with anexemplary content system 400. The vehicle information system 300 and thecontent system 400 communicate via the satellite communication system370A. The content system 400 includes an Internet Protocol (IP) backbonesystem 410. An exemplary IP backbone system 410 is the IP backbonesystem as manufactured by Intelsat, Ltd., of Pembroke, Bermuda. The IPbackbone system 410 is coupled with a satellite transceiver hub system420. The satellite transceiver hub system 420 preferably comprises aconventional satellite transceiver hub that provides a satellite linkwith the satellite communication system 370A.

The content system 400 is shown as including at least one networkoperations center (NOC) 440. The network operations center 440A, forexample, comprises a physical and logical hub for the content system400. Providing fully managed network services, the network operationscenter 440 forms a gateway to the Internet 310C and other publictelecommunication networks that can communicate with off-networkdestinations, such as an Internet Service Provider (ISP) management (ormonitoring) system 430. The content system 400 likewise can include anetwork operations center 440B that manages (or monitors) selectedoperating parameters, such as operating mode and/or usage, of thevehicle information system 300.

The network operations center 440 advantageously centralizes monitoringand operations of the vehicle information system 300. Thereby, thevehicle information system elements of the vehicle information system300 can be readily reconfigured in response to failures, outages,performance bottlenecks, loading balance objectives, and other networkcontrol requirements. The network operations center 440 likewise canprovide for operator monitoring of radio frequency (RF) return linkstatus, frequency, data rate assignments, and power levels on aper-mobile platform basis. As desired, the network operations center 440can provide for operator monitoring of aggregate equivalent (oreffective) isotropically radiated power (EIRP) spectral density relativeto regulatory interference limits for each return link transponder. Thenetwork operations center 440, when necessary, can provide notificationsand enable operator inputs to support manual operator control of radiofrequency (RF) return link transmission parameters, and manualtermination of return link transmissions. The network operations center440 also can calculate the bandwidth demanded, reports to the serviceprovider, and re-configures the satellite linking bandwidth.

When in communication with the content system 400, the vehicleinformation system 300 can exploit the advent of high-speed connectivitysolutions, such as a broadband connectivity solution, to establish andmaintain a low-cost, high-capacity data connection with the contentsystem 400. The vehicle information system 300 thereby can supportbidirectional communications with functionality associated with thecontent system 400 to provide enhanced information, entertainment, andcommunication services (or functionality). Exemplary functionality ofthe content system 400 can include on-board access to in-transitshopping, the Internet 310C, electronic mail (or email), corporatevirtual private networks (VPNs), customer virtual private networks(VPNs), and/or other sources of non-public (or personal) viewingcontent, such as a customer or corporate Intranet system. The vehicleinformation system 300 thereby can be established as another node on the“Worldwide Net” and can advantageously enhance a system user'sexperience, increase operational efficiency, and/or create a source ofrevenue for the aircraft operator.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the vehicle information system300, wherein the vehicle information system 300 includes a broadbandcommunication system 510 for supporting broadband communications withthe content system 400 (shown in FIG. 1). The broadband communicationsystem 510 is illustrated as including a broadband antenna system 512and a broadband control system 514. Preferably being disposed under, andprotected by, a radome, the broadband antenna system 512 can be providedin the manner set forth above with reference to the antenna system 330(shown in FIG. 2B) and operates under control of the broadband controlsystem 514. Exemplary antenna systems and control systems are shown anddescribed in set forth in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patentapplication, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENTON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378,filed on Nov. 7, 2005. An exemplary broadband antenna system is theMiJet broadband antenna system as manufactured by Starling AdvancedCommunications Ltd., of Yoqneam, Israel. The vehicle information system300 thereby can support a broadband network load of approximately 18Mbits/s for downstream traffic and 4.2 Mbits/s for upstream traffic.

The broadband control system 514 can include a conventional satellitemodem system (not shown) and/or a media server system that is providedin the manner set forth above with reference to the media server system310A (shown in FIGS. 2A-B). Being in communication with the broadbandantenna system 512, the broadband control system 514 can provide controldata signals 513A to the broadband antenna system 512. The broadbandcontrol system 514 thereby can direct the broadband antenna system 512toward a selected satellite communication system 370A (shown in FIG. 2B)such that the vehicle information system 300 can communicate with thesatellite communication system 370A and, thereby, a relevant contentsystem 400 (shown in FIG. 1). When in communication with the contentsystem 400, the vehicle information system 300 can exchange content datasignals 513B with the content system 400 via the satellite communicationsystem 370A. In other words, the broadband control system 514 provides abroadband connection to and from the satellite communication system370A.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the broadband control system 514 cancommunicate with the content distribution system 320 of the vehicleinformation system 300. If the content distribution system 320 supportsGigabit (such as 1000Base-X and/or 1000Base-T) Ethernet communicationsin the manner discussed above, the broadband control system 514 cancommunicate with the content distribution system 320 via a GigabitEthernet communication connection as shown in FIG. 6. As desired, thebroadband control system 514 and the content distribution system 320 cancommunicate directly and/or indirectly via, for example, an aircraftinterface system 522 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The aircraft interfacesystem 522 for aircraft 390B with a wide-body configuration and/or asystem controller 530 (shown FIG. 7B) for aircraft 390B with anarrow-body configuration can be coupled with the content distributionsystem 320 and provide an interface for providing selected aircraft andother avionics information, such as Aeronautical Radio Incorporated(ARINC) Standard 429 signaling, Ethernet signaling, discreteinput/output keylines, public address audio, flight mapping data, to thevehicle information system 300. The aircraft interface system 522 and/orthe system controller 530 thereby can serve as a gateway betweenaircraft avionics equipment (not shown) and the vehicle informationsystem 300.

In operation, the broadband feed of viewing content 210 (shown in FIG.4B) is beamed from the satellite communication system 370A to thebroadband antenna system 512. Upon receiving the downloaded viewingcontent 210D (shown in FIG. 4B), the broadband antenna system 512 canprovide the received viewing content 210 to the broadband control system514. As desired, the broadband antenna system 512 can preprocess thereceived viewing content 210 in any conventional manner and provide thepreprocessed viewing content 210 to the broadband control system 514.Illustrative preprocessing operations can include amplification and/ordown-conversion of the received viewing content 210 without limitation.In a preferred embodiment the received viewing content 210 is receivedas a pair of high-frequency signals within the Ku-Band (10.7 GHz-12.75GHz) and are downconverted into a pair of intermediate-frequency (orlow-frequency) signals within a predetermined intermediate-frequency (orlow-frequency) band, such as the L-Band (950 MHz-2150 MHz).

The broadband antenna system 512 thereby can convert the receivedviewing content 210 into the preprocessed viewing content 210 that issuitable for distribution throughout the vehicle information system 300without significant cable loss and/or signal degradation. The broadbandcontrol system 514 can receive the viewing content 210, including thereceived viewing content and/or the preprocessed viewing content 210,from the broadband antenna system 512 and can demodulate the viewingcontent 210. Upon demodulating the viewing content 210, the broadbandcontrol system 514 can provide the demodulated viewing content 210 tothe content distribution system 320 for distribution throughout thevehicle information system 300. The demodulated viewing content 210thereby can be presented via the video presentation systems 362 (shownin FIGS. 4A-B) and/or the audio presentation systems 364 (shown in FIGS.4A-B) of the vehicle information system 300. As desired, the contentdistribution system 320 can include one or more access point 368, suchas the wireless access point (WAP) shown in FIG. 6, for communicatingwith personal (or portable) media devices 200 (shown in FIG. 4B). Thedemodulated viewing content 210 thereby can be presented via the videodisplay system (shown in FIG. 4B) and/or the audio system 250 (shown inFIG. 4B) of the personal media devices 200.

As desired, the above process can be reversed to transmit uploadedviewing content 210U (shown in FIG. 4B) from the vehicle informationsystem 300 to the satellite communication system 370A via the broadbandantenna system 512. Instructions for navigating viewing contentavailable on the content system 400, for example, can be entered via theinput system 366 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) of the vehicle information system300 and/or the user control system 260 (shown in FIG. 4B) of thepersonal media device 200. The navigation instructions can be entered inany conventional manner such as via a menu system presented on atouchscreen display system. Illustrative manners for entering thenavigation instructions are shown and described in the above-referencedco-pending U.S. patent applications, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORDOWNLOADING FILES,” Ser. No. 10/772,565, filed on Feb. 4, 2004; entitled“PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING VIEWING CONTENT DURINGTRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/154,749, filed on Jun. 15, 2005; and entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORMDURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7,2005; “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACING A PORTABLE MEDIA DEVICE WITH AVEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM,” Ser. No. 12/210,624, filed on Sep. 15,2008; and “PORTABLE USER CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VEHICLEINFORMATION SYSTEMS,” Ser. No. 12/210,689, filed on Sep. 15, 2008.

The content distribution system 320 preferably provides broadbandEthernet network connectivity between the headend system 310H (shown inFIG. 3) and the user interface systems 360, the access points 368,and/or the personal media devices 200. If provided as wireless accesspoints (WAPs), for example, the wireless access points 368 can providebroadband wireless access for the personal media devices 200 bytransmitting and/or receiving broadband radio frequency communicationsignals (not shown). To support broadband Ethernet network connectivitythroughout the distribution system 320, the switching system 321 canprovide high-speed 10/100/1000 Base-SX/T Ethernet communications amongthe vehicle information system elements of the vehicle informationsystem 300. The vehicle information system 300 thereby can provide user(or passenger) access to the Internet 310C and other audio and/or videoviewing content 210. The area distribution boxes (ADBs) 322 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 7A-C) can serve as network hubs and can enable the seatelectronics boxes (SEBs) (and/or premium seat electronics boxes (PSEBs))324 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 7B-C) to connect to the distribution system320. As desired, the distribution system 320 can support Internetprotocol (IP), Spanning Tree Protocol, and/or Quality of Service.

The vehicle information system elements of the vehicle informationsystem 300 preferably are serially connected by two balanced and twistedpair wires (not shown). Each vehicle information system element can beconnected to a shared signaling system. The Ethernet signals aretransmitted serially, one bit at a time, over the shared signal channelto each vehicle information system element. To send data, a selectedvehicle information system element listens to the channel, and, when thechannel is idle, the vehicle information system element transmits datain the form of an Ethernet frame or packets, thereby preventing datacollisions on the data bus. If the channel is busy, the vehicleinformation system element continues to listen until the channel isidle.

After each frame transmission, each vehicle information system elementon the distribution system 320 can contend equally for the next frametransmission opportunity. Access to the network channel thereby can beequal such that no single vehicle information system element can lockout the other vehicle information system elements. The Ethernet dataframe preferably comprises of a set of bits organized into severalfields. These fields include address fields, a variable size data fieldthat carries from 46 to 1,500 bytes of data, and an error checking fieldthat checks the integrity of the bits in the frame to make sure that theframe has arrived intact. The first two fields in the frame carry 48-bitaddresses, called the destination and source addresses. All unitsconnected on the network look at the destination address. The vehicleinformation system element with the same address as the destinationaddress in the frame will read in the entire frames. Other vehicleinformation system elements can stop reading the frame when thedestination address does not match their own address.

The Ethernet distribution system 320 provides communication between thevehicle information system elements. Internet data, media contents,application codes, database, and built-in test equipment (BITE) commandscan be sent from a crew terminal (or panel) 524 (shown in FIGS. 7A-C)and/or a file server system 528 (shown in FIGS. 7A-C) to the seatelectronics boxes (SEBs) (and/or premium seat electronics boxes (PSEBs))324 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 7B-C) and/or a wireless zone terminatorthrough a wireless portion of the distribution system 320. The seatequipment can also send program request, BITE status, and passengerservice data back to the headend system 310H via the Ethernetdistribution system 320.

As desired, the distribution system 320 can include a fiber gigabitEthernet portion that conforms to Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.3z. The fiber optic connectioncan be 62.5/125 μm multi mode fiber with a 850 nm wavelength. Theresultant data rate thereby can be 1 Gbits/s. If the distribution system320 is provided with one or more copper Ethernet connections, the copperEthernet connections preferably conform to Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers (IEEE) Standard 802.3. The resultant data rate canbe 10/100/1000 Mbits/s. The copper connections for 10/100 Base-T copperEthernet can include Category 5E (or equivalent) cables in accordancewith American National Standards Institute Standard TIA/EIA-568-B;whereas, the copper connections for 1000 Base-T copper Ethernet caninclude Category 6 (or equivalent) cables in accordance with AmericanNational Standards Institute Standard TIA/EIA-568-B.

Selected embodiments of the vehicle information system 300 are shown anddescribed with reference to FIGS. 7A-C. Turning to FIG. 7A, the vehicleinformation system 300 is shown as being suitable for use as astand-alone system. The broadband communication system 510 of thevehicle information system 300 can include an antenna control unit (ACU)516 for tracking communication signals from the satellite communicationsystem 370A (shown in FIG. 2B) and providing alignment data to thebroadband antenna system 512. The antenna control unit 516 thereby caninitiate and/or maintain communication between the broadband antennasystem 512 and the satellite communication system 370A (shown in FIG.2B).

The antenna control system 516 can comprise any conventional type ofantenna controller and can direct the broadband antenna system 512toward the satellite communication system 370A in any suitable manner.Exemplary manners for initiating and/or maintaining communicationbetween the broadband antenna system 512 and the satellite communicationsystem 370A are shown and described in the above-referenced co-pendingU.S. patent application, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVINGBROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL,”Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. As illustrated in FIG. 7A,vehicle position data can be provided by a vehicle position system 518,such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and/or an InertialReference System (IRS).

The antenna control system 516 can track the satellite communicationsystem 370A and maintain the connectivity with the land-based satellitetransceiver hub system 420 (shown in FIG. 5) over the satellitecommunication system 370A. As needed, the antenna control system 516 canautomatically find and switch to another suitable satellite beam whenthe vehicle 390 travels outside the area covered by the currently usedsatellite beam. The antenna control system 516 can automaticallyre-establish connectivity when satellite service is interrupted for anyreason and the cause of interruption is rectified. The antenna controlsystem 516 likewise can restore Internet protocol (IP) connectivity tothe vehicle 390 after establishing the connection to the new beam. Thecontent system 400 preferably supports beam switching to coordinate thevehicle information system 300 re-establishing the connectivity. Advancenotice preferably is provided to the system applications of the vehicleinformation system 300 to allow the vehicle information system 300adjust the performance parameters accordantly, such as VPN reconnect,audio/video streaming buffer, credit card verification buffer, etc.

The broadband control system 514 provides a broadband communicationconnection (or link) between the vehicle information system 300 and thesatellite communication system 370A (shown in FIG. 2B) and isillustrated as including at least one switching system 321. Theswitching system 321 of the broadband control system 514 can be providedin the manner discussed above with reference to FIG. 3 and can include aprivate switching system 321A and/or a public switching system 321B.Segmenting the switching system 321 into the private switching system321A and the public switching system 321B helps to prevent unauthorizedaccess to the vehicle information system 300 or sensitive user (orpassenger) information, such as user purchase authorization information.Preferably, no connection between external users and mobile platformpassengers (other than authorized administrators) and internal, missioncritical databases in the security enclave is allowed. The privateswitching system 321A can communicate with the broadband communicationsystem 510; whereas, the public switching system 321B communicates withone or more wireless access points 368. The private switching system321A and the public switching system 321B can communicate directlyand/or indirectly, such as via a server system, such as a file serversystem 528.

The broadband control system 514 likewise is shown as being incommunication with the aircraft interface system 522, which provides aninterface between the vehicle information system 300 and aircraftavionics equipment (not shown) installed aboard a wide-body aircraft390B (shown in FIG. 2B). The file server system 528 can communicate withthe broadband control system 514 and can be coupled with a data loadingsystem 529. Information, such as media content and/or cabinconfiguration data, can be provided to the vehicle information system300 via the data loading system 529. The data loading system 529preferably is coupled with the file server system 528 via a Gigabit(such as 1000Base-X and/or 1000Base-T) Ethernet communication port.

As desired, one or more other types of vehicle information systemelements can be coupled with the broadband control system 514. A crewterminal (or panel) 524 can provide a user interface for permitting acrew of a passenger vehicle 390 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) to control systemconfigurations and/or features of the vehicle information system 300.Exemplary system configurations and/or features that can be controlledvia the crew terminal 524 can include displaying (and/or changing) aseat layout of the passenger seats 382 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) within thepassenger cabin 380 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) of a passenger vehicle 390(shown in FIGS. 4A-B), public address (or PA) zones within the passengercabin 380, database control, audio channel assignments, and/or powercontrol for one or more personal media devices 200. The crew terminal524 likewise can be used to perform system BITE and/or softwaredownloads for the vehicle information system 300. The broadband controlsystem 514 can be coupled with a terminal wireless local area network(LAN) system 526 and/or a telephone system 525, such as a PicoCelltelephone system that supports mobile telephone connectivity within thepassenger vehicle 390 via the vehicle information system 300.

Public address (or PA) audio can be provided to the vehicle informationsystem 300 via the broadband control system 514 and/or a systemcontroller 530 (shown FIG. 7B). If provided in a baseband format, thepublic address audio can be provided to the broadband control system 514and/or the system controller 530 from the aircraft interface system 522.The broadband control system 514 and/or the system controller 530preferably digitize and/or encode the baseband public address audio intoan Ethernet data stream and distribute the digitized public addressaudio to the passenger seats 382 via the content distribution system320. For example, the digitized public address audio can be provided tothe switching systems 321 and area distribution boxes (ADBs) 322 (shownin FIGS. 7B-C) for presentation via the audio systems 250 (shown in FIG.4B) of the respective personal media devices 200 and/or the audiopresentation system 364 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) of the vehicle informationsystem 300. Upon receiving the digitized public address audio, the audiosystems 250 and/or the audio presentation system 364 can decode thedigitized public address audio into analog audio and present the analogpublic address audio. Preferably, the public address audio takespriority over any other viewing content 210 being presented by the audiosystems 250 and/or the audio presentation system 364.

The wireless access point 368 is shown as including an access pointantenna system 369. The access point antenna system 369 can transmitand/or receive broadband radio frequency communication signals (notshown) between the vehicle information system 300 and one or morepersonal media devices 200. The communication ports (or connectors) 270of the personal media device 200 is illustrated as including a deviceantenna system 270A for communicating with the access point antennasystem 369. The access point antenna system 369 and the device antennasystem 270A can comprise any conventional types of antenna systemssuitable for transmitting and/or receiving the broadband radio frequencycommunication signals between the vehicle information system 300 and thepersonal media devices 200.

The vehicle information system 300 of FIG. 7B is suitable forinstallation aboard an aircraft 390B (shown in FIG. 2B) with anarrow-body configuration. The broadband antenna system 512, thebroadband control system 514, and the wireless access point 368 areshown as being provided in the manner set forth above with reference toFIG. 7A. The vehicle information system 300 is shown as including asystem controller 530. The system controller 530 is coupled with thecontent distribution system 320 and provides an interface for providingselected aircraft and other avionics information, such as AeronauticalRadio Incorporated (ARINC) Standard 429 signaling, Ethernet signaling,discrete input/output keylines, public address audio, flight mappingdata, to the vehicle information system 300. The system controller 530thereby can serve as a gateway between aircraft avionics equipment (notshown) and the vehicle information system 300. As desired, the systemcontroller 530 can be coupled with one or more content sources 310, suchas a video tape recorder system 310X, for providing viewing content 210for presentation aboard the vehicle information system 300.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the content distribution system 320 of the vehicleinformation system 300 can include a plurality of tapping units 327 forproviding radio frequency video signals to video presentation system362, such as overhead cabin display systems 362A. Baseband video signalslikewise can be distributed to the overhead cabin display systems 362Avia one or more video distribution systems 328. The tapping units 327and/or the video distribution systems 328 preferably are provided asline replaceable units (LRUs) in the manner set forth above. As desired,digital video signals can be distributed via one or more high-speed10/100/1000 Base-SX/T Ethernet communication connections. The contentdistribution system 320 can include at least one video seat electronicsboxes (VSEBs) 324V that are provided in the manner set forth above withreference to the seat electronics boxes (SEBs) (and/or premium seatelectronics boxes (PSEBs)) 324 (shown in FIG. 3). The video seatelectronics boxes 324V can provide the digital video signals to aselected video presentation system 362, such as a seatback displaysystem 362B of the vehicle information system 300 and/or a video displaysystem 240 (shown in FIG. 4B) of the personal media device 200, forpresentation.

Turning to FIG. 7C, the vehicle information system 300 is shown as beingsuitable for installation aboard an aircraft 390B (shown in FIG. 2B)with a wide-body configuration. The broadband antenna system 512, thebroadband control system 514, and the wireless access point 368 areprovided in the manner set forth above with reference to FIG. 7A. Asillustrated in FIG. 7C, the system controller 530 of the vehicleinformation system 300 can be coupled with the content distributionsystem 320 and provides an interface for providing selected aircraft andother avionics information, such as Aeronautical Radio Incorporated(ARINC) Standard 429 signaling, Ethernet signaling, discreteinput/output keylines, public address audio, flight mapping data, to thevehicle information system 300. The system controller 530 thereby canserve as a gateway between aircraft avionics equipment (not shown) andthe vehicle information system 300. As desired, the system controller530 can be coupled with one or more content sources 310, such as acamera system 310Y and/or a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) televisionsystem 310Z, for providing viewing content 210 for presentation aboardthe vehicle information system 300.

FIG. 7C shows that the content distribution system 320 of the vehicleinformation system 300 can include a one or more digital tapping units329 for providing video signals to video presentation system 362, suchas overhead cabin display systems 362A. As desired, digital videosignals can be distributed via one or more high-speed 10/100/1000Base-SX/T Ethernet communication connections. The content distributionsystem 320 can include at least one seat electronics boxes (SEBs) 324.The seat electronics boxes 324 can provide the digital video signals toa selected video presentation system 362, such as a seatback displaysystem 362B of the vehicle information system 300 and/or a video displaysystem 240 (shown in FIG. 4B) of the personal media device 200, forpresentation. The vehicle information system 300 likewise is shown asincluding at least one media (or content) server system 310A in themanner discussed in more detail above with reference to FIGS. 2A-B.

An exemplary wireless access point 368 for the vehicle informationsystem 300 (shown in FIGS. 7A-C) is illustrated in FIG. 8. The wirelessaccess point 368 is shown as including an input/output (I/O) processorsystem 610 that communicates with an Ethernet transceiver 620. Thewireless access point 368 has a communication port 630 for exchangingEthernet signals (not shown) with the broadband control system 514(shown in FIGS. 7A-C) and/or a selected area distribution box (ADB) 322(shown in FIGS. 7B-C) of the vehicle information system 300. Theinput/output (I/O) processor system 610 likewise can communicate with awireless module system 660. The wireless module system 660 is coupledwith the access point antenna system 369 and enables the access pointantenna system 369 to transmit and/or receive broadband radio frequencycommunication signals (not shown) between the vehicle information system300 and one or more personal media devices 200 (shown in FIGS. 7A-C). Asshown in FIG. 8, the wireless access point 368 includes a power supplysystem 640 that received incoming power from the area distribution box(ADB) 322 and that provides operating power for the wireless accesspoint 368.

In operation, the vehicle information system 300 advantageously cansupport bidirectional data transfers at significant data rates. Forexample, the vehicle information system 300 can support (forward link)data downloads with data rates of up to approximately 10 Mbps-15 Mbps orhigher and (return link) data uploads with data rates of up toapproximately 1.5 Mbps or higher. The bandwidth used by a typicalpassenger (or user) during eight hours of travel can be about 7 Mbps.The vehicle information system 300 can permit access to the Internet310C in any conventional manner, including via a personal media device200 (shown in FIG. 4B) that communicates with the vehicle informationsystem 300 via a wired and/or wireless access point 368 and/or via auser (or passenger) interface systems 360 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B), such asa seatback display systems 362B (shown in FIGS. 4A-B), of the vehicleinformation system 300. As desired, the personal media device 200 cancomprise a stand-alone installation such that the personal media device200 operates as an independent passenger data network via the accesspoint 368. Connectivity preferably is accomplished via the personalmedia device 200.

When installed aboard an aircraft 390B, for example, the vehicleinformation system 300 preferably presents a broadband portalapplication that provides users (or passengers) with onboard access to apremier set of in-flight Intranet and Internet, information,entertainment, communications, and/or other system services duringtravel. Selected system services may be provided at no cost to the user(or passenger); whereas, other selected system services may requirepayment of a fee before access to the system services is permitted. Thesystem services can include access to websites on the World Wide Web viathe onboard intranet. Thereby, the user can have direct access tovirtually any site on the Internet 310C. Access to selected sites, suchas web sites that present obscene or otherwise objectionable material,may be limited during travel. Stated somewhat differently the vehicleinformation system 300 can provide website filtering/blocking ofobjectionable content, unauthorized site and services which requireexcess bandwidth. The ground network operations center (NOC) 440 (shownin FIG. 5) likewise can filter/block the inappropriate URLs/unauthorizedsite before they are sent to the vehicle information system 300. Theuser likewise can send and/or receive electronic mail (or email) messageby directly accessing their business and/or personal email accounts. Asdesired, an authorized user can establish a connection to a virtualprivate network (VPN). The user can access instant messaging (IM) and/orShort Message Service (SMS).

The user can access viewing content 210 stored by the vehicleinformation system 300. The stored viewing content 210 can includepremium viewing content 210, such as selected television programming,movies, and/or short films. Electronic magazines (e-zines), newspapersand other publications likewise can be provided as the viewing content210. The vehicle information system 300 preferably provides a standardselection of publications and/or publications that are specificallyselected to appeal to user demographics. As desired, the viewing content210 can be selected and/or manipulated to increase font size andreviewed while on the aircraft 390B. Electronic publications may beremoved from the aircraft 390B if purchased.

Additionally, and/or alternatively, the user can access onboard gamesand/or view advertising, news, weather, sports financial, and/or othertypes of viewing content 210. The viewing content 210 can be selected,for example, based upon the user's interests and/or the region oftravel. The advertising content can include Web advertising content. Theuser likewise can access airline information content, which can includesmaps, connecting gate information, arrival/departure information, and/ordestination information based on airline preference. The vehicleinformation system 300 can offer viewing content 210 provided via one ormore channels of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) programming and/orInternet Protocol (IP) Radio programming. The IPTV programming caninclude live programming that is focused on news and sports. Other typesof IPTV programming may be delivered over the broadband link but not ina real-time fashion and usually during non-peak network demand periods.

As set forth above, selected system services of the vehicle informationsystem 300 may require payment of a fee before access to the systemservices is permitted. Exemplary fee-based system services can includepay-per-use services and/or in-flight shopping. The pay-per-use servicescan include specialty system services, such as streaming audio,streaming video, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) programming, andsystem services that utilize the broadband telecommunications link withthe terrestrial content system 400. Exemplary system services thatutilize the broadband telecommunications link include instant messaging(IM), Short Message Service (SMS), restaurant reservations, tee times,online bookings, and and/or access to games. The fee for these systemservices can vary based on the particular feature accessed. The vehicleinformation system 300 likewise can provide computer games and/ormulti-player games, which can be charged on an unlimited play of a titlebasis and/or unlimited play of games from the same distributor.

In-flight shopping advantageously permits a user (or Web shopper) tomake purchases by browsing a selected Web site, selecting an itemregistering on the site, providing a credit card number and shippinginformation. The sales information can be transmitted to the Web vendorwho, upon verifying the credit card information, ships the purchaseditem. The preferably receives a confirmation number. As desired, thegraphic content of e-commerce web sites can be re-hosted and stored onthe server system 310A (shown in FIGS. 2A-B). At least one networkoperations center (NOC) 440 (shown in FIG. 5), such as the networkoperations center 440B (shown in FIG. 5), can monitor changes that occuron the ground web sites. The network operations center 440 thereby cansynchronize the airborne viewing content 210 with the ground-basedviewing content 210 and provide regular updates for pricing, product,etc. Preferably, the vehicle information system 300 can selectappropriate e-commerce partners to match user demographics andpreferences regarding markets and services.

If he elects to make a purchase while browsing the selected Web site,the users can provide purchase authorization information, such as creditcard verification information, to confirm that the user is authorized tomake the purchase. As desired, the vehicle information system 300 caninclude a card reader (not shown) for reading purchase authorizationinformation provided by various types of cards, such as credit cards,frequent flyer cards, and the like. The card reader preferably isdisposed adjacent to the passenger seats 382 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B). Thevehicle information system 300 can authenticate the purchaseauthorization information in real time to avoid transaction processingdelays and potential fraud. As needed, the vehicle information system300 can cache the purchase authorization information while the satellitelink is not available. The purchase authorization information therebycan be transmitted once the satellite link becomes available. Thevehicle information system 300 preferably provides purchase confirmationinformation, such as a confirmation number, upon verifying the purchaseauthorization information.

An exemplary confirmation process 700 for confirming credit cardauthorization information is shown in FIG. 9. At 710, a user browses (orshops) at the selected Web site. Upon deciding to make a purchase fromthe selected Web site, the user, at 720, provides credit card paymentinformation (and/or shipping and other user information) to the vehicleinformation system 300 (shown in FIGS. 2A-B). The vehicle informationsystem 300 confirms whether the satellite link to the satellitecommunication system 370A (shown in FIG. 2B) is available, at 730. Ifthe satellite link is available, the vehicle information system 300, at740, transmits the credit card payment information (and/or shipping andother user information) to the network operations center (NOC) 440(shown in FIG. 5). The network operations center 440 verifies the creditcard payment information (and/or shipping and other user information)and, upon verifying the information, provides a confirmation number tothe vehicle information system 300. At 750, the vehicle informationsystem 300 provides the confirmation number to the user.

If the vehicle information system 300, at 730, determines that thesatellite link is not available, the vehicle information system 300, at760, can determine whether the purchase amount is less than (or equalto) a predetermined maximum purchase limit. At 770, the vehicleinformation system 300 requests that the user try to make his purchaseat a later time if the purchase amount is greater than the predeterminedmaximum purchase limit. Otherwise, the vehicle information system 300,at 780, sends the credit card payment information (and/or shipping andother user information) to a buffer system (not shown). The vehicleinformation system 300 informs the user that the confirmation numberwill be provided via electronic mail (or e-mail) and/or periodicallyattempts to transmit the credit card payment information (and/orshipping and other user information) to the network operations center440. The vehicle information system 300 can attempt to transmit thecredit card payment information (and/or shipping and other userinformation) in accordance with any suitable criteria, such as apredetermined time interval.

In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle information system 300 cancollect and/or report data necessary to support billing of commercialservices on a per user per session basis including date/time/duration ofservice, airline code/flight number, user identification number (orcode), payment option, pricing plan, type of service, applicablepromotions and discounts with associated expiration dates, and/orgeographic region of service. Exemplary billing information can includean aircraft identification number (or code), a date of network activity,a time and/or duration of the network activity, a region of the networkactivity, and/or any unique usage/events (i.e. paid-per-use service).The vehicle information system 300 likewise can data necessary tosupport billing of customers based on bandwidth usage for transmittal ofcustomer-specific content, data, and/or off-board transactions. Asdesired, the vehicle information system 300 can permit users to select asubscription payment plan at login, to cancel their subscriptions,and/or to select a subscription payment plan during account maintenance.

Users can perform maintenance on their user accounts at any time. Forexample, the vehicle information system 300 can provide free user accessto user account services when the radio frequency (RF) link connectivityactive. After travel is complete, users can maintain their user accountsvia a ground portal (not shown). Users preferably are be required toauthenticate their identities prior to accessing the accountinformation. As desired, any user purchase authorization information,such as credit card numbers, entered during account maintenance can beimmediately verified. For example, credit card information can beverified to confirm that the card number entered is valid and isapproved for a nominal charge.

Users likewise can access system registration services at any time, suchas via the ground portal and/or via the vehicle information system 300when the radio frequency (RF) link connectivity active. After travel iscomplete, users can maintain their user accounts via a ground portal(not shown). Access to the system registration services preferably isprovided at no cost to the user. On-line, self-help customer support,including web-based informational sources and answers to frequentlyasked questions (FAQs) likewise can be made available to users. Asdesired, the system can collect information to identify specificaircraft that are active on the network.

To help assure secure transactions, communications between the vehicleinformation system 300 and the content system 400 preferably areencrypted. Wireless security software likewise can be implemented forsafety transaction. The vehicle information system 300 can protectitself from viruses. If the anti-virus software is used, for example,the anti-virus software can be updated on a time basis to maintaincurrency of data files and scanning engine from the virus protectionsoftware vendor that include signatures identifying the latest viruses.The vehicle information system 300 likewise can purge all user databefore the end of travel. Such user data can include, but is not limitedto, user name, account information, purchase authorization information,and/or user activities.

Turning to FIG. 10A, the vehicle information system 300 is shown asincluding a telephone system 800. Like the telephone system 525 (shownin FIG. 7A), the telephone system 800 can be provided as a PicoCelltelephone system and/or can support mobile telephone connectivity withinthe passenger vehicle 390 (shown in FIGS. 2A-B). The vehicle informationsystem 300 thereby enables users (or passengers) to operate theirpersonal cellular telephones (not shown) and other personal mediadevices 200 (shown in FIG. 4B) that support cellular communicationconnections while traveling aboard the passenger vehicle 390. Byintegrating the telephone system 800, the vehicle information system 300advantageously can provide robust cellular telephone service that hasgreater simultaneous calling capacity and that has lower per minute costthan conventional cellular telephone systems.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the telephone system 800 can include a PicoCellsystem 810 that communicates with one or more radio frequency (RF)management systems 820 and/or aerial combiner unit (ACU) systems 830.The PicoCell system 810, the radio frequency (RF) management systems820, and the aerial combiner unit systems 830 are shown as communicatingvia coaxial communication connections 840. Each aerial combiner unitsystem 830 provides at least one leaky feeder system 850 for exchangingcellular communication signals with the personal cellular telephones andother personal media devices 200. In the manner set forth in FIG. 7A,the PicoCell system 810 and/or at least one of the radio frequencymanagement systems 820 can communicate with the aircraft interfacesystem 522 via a high-speed 10/100/1000 Base-SX/T Ethernet communicationconnection 860.

The telephone system 800 preferably receives the cellular communicationsignals and converts the cellular communication signals into aVoice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) format for transmission to thecontent system 400 via the broadband communication system 510 and thesatellite communication system 370A (shown in FIG. 2B). The contentsystem 400 exchanges the VoIP signals with the Internet 310C (shown inFIG. 2B). Incoming VoIP signals can be converted by the telephone system800 into cellular communication signals that are transmitted to thepersonal cellular telephones and other personal media devices 200. Thevehicle information system 300 thereby can provide a predeterminednumber of cellular telephone channels for cabin internal seat-to-seatcommunication and/or for air-to-ground communication. As desired, atelephone handset system can be integrated into a selected passengerseat 382 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) and interfaced with the headend system310H (shown in FIG. 3).

Alternatively, and/or additionally, the vehicle information system 300can include a television system. Turning to FIG. 10B, for example,vehicle information system 300 is shown as including an integrateddigital television (IDTV) system 900. An exemplary integrated digitaltelevision system is shown and described in the above-referencedco-pending U.S. patent application, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORRECEIVING BROADCAST CONTENT ON A MOBILE PLATFORM DURING INTERNATIONALTRAVEL,” Ser. No. 11/269,378, filed on Nov. 7, 2005. The integrateddigital television system 900 is illustrated as including a digitaltelevision antenna system 910 and a digital television antenna controlunit (ACU) 930. Preferably being disposed under, and protected by, aradome, the digital television antenna system 910 can be provided in themanner set forth above with reference to the broadband antenna system512 and operates under control of a multi-regional digital receiver(MRDR) system 950.

The digital television antenna control unit 930 can track communicationsignals from the satellite communication system 370A (shown in FIG. 2B)and providing alignment data to the digital television antenna system910. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, position data 940 can be provided tothe digital television antenna control unit 930 by a vehicle positionsystem (not shown), such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) systemand/or an Inertial Reference System (IRS). The digital televisionantenna control unit 930 thereby can initiate and/or maintaincommunication between the digital television antenna system 910 and thesatellite communication system 370A. The digital television antennacontrol unit 930 can direct the digital television antenna system 910toward a selected satellite communication system 370A that can be thesame and/or different satellite communication system 370A at which thebroadband antenna system 512 is directed.

If the television viewing content 210 (shown in FIGS. 2A-B) is providedas a pair of oppositely-polarized signals, a low-noise amplifier (LNB)system 920 can amplify the pair of oppositely-polarized signals asillustrated in FIG. 10B. The low-noise amplifier (LNB) system 920likewise can downconvert the pair of oppositely-polarized signals frombeing high-frequency signals within the Ku-Band (10.7 GHz-12.75 GHz)into a pair of intermediate-frequency) (or low-frequency) signals withina predetermined intermediate-frequency (or low-frequency) band, such asthe L-Band (950 MHz-2150 MHz).

The intermediate-frequency (or low-frequency) signals can be provided toone or more multi-regional digital receiver systems 950. Eachmulti-regional digital receiver system 950 selects a predeterminedtelevision channel from the television viewing content 210. Being incommunication with selected switching systems 321, the multi-regionaldigital receiver systems 950 provide the predetermined televisionchannels to the content distribution system 320 for presentation at thepassenger seats 382 (shown in FIGS. 4A-B) in the manner set forth inmore detail above.

The described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to belimited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to thecontrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives.

1. A vehicle information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting broadband communications with a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising: a broadband antenna system; an antenna control system for directing said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the passenger vehicle with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; a broadband-control system for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband-control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; and an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle for communicating with said broadband control system, wherein a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle is enabled to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, and wherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.
 2. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said broadband antenna system, said switching system, said broadband control system, and said wireless access point-is provided as a line replaceable-unit.
 3. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a headend system for providing overall system control functions for the vehicle information system.
 4. The vehicle information system of claim 3, wherein said headend system includes a local content source that is at least partially integrated with said headend system, and wherein the personal media device is enabled to select and present viewing content available from said local content source.
 5. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said antenna control system receives the position of the vehicle information system from a vehicle position system selected from a group consisting of a Global Positioning Satellite system and an Inertial Reference System.
 6. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said distribution system is selected from a group consisting of a wired distribution system and a wireless distribution system.
 7. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said content distribution system includes an area distribution box, and wherein said wireless access point communicates with said switching system via said area distribution box.
 8. The vehicle information system of claim 7, wherein said area distribution box provides operating power to said wireless access point.
 9. The vehicle information system of claim 7, wherein said content distribution system includes a seat electronics box, said wireless access point communicating with said area distribution box via said seat electronics box.
 10. The vehicle information system of claim 9, further comprising a presentation system and a user control system each being coupled with said content distribution system, wherein selection and presentation of viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is alternatively controlled via said user control system and a user control system of the personal media device.
 11. The vehicle information system of claim 10, wherein the selected viewing content is alternatively presented by said presentation system and a presentation system of the personal media device.
 12. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the operator device is enabled to communicate with onboard equipment that comprise at least one of a public address system, database control system, or a control system for providing power control for one or more of the personal media devices.
 13. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device includes at least one of an audio presentation system for presenting an audio portion of viewing content available streamed from the terrestrial content source and a video presentation system for presenting a video portion of the viewing content.
 14. The vehicle information system of claim 13, wherein the viewing content available from the terrestrial content source is selected from a viewing content group consisting of content associated with in-transit shopping, the Internet, electronic mail, corporate virtual private networks, customer virtual private networks, and an Intranet system.
 15. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the operator device is a crew terminal for controlling a public address system, database control, or power control for one or more of the personal media devices.
 16. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the personal media device includes an input system for selecting the selected viewing content for presentation and for controlling presentation of the selected viewing content.
 17. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard an aircraft.
 18. The vehicle information system of claim 1, further comprising a telephone system for communicating with said broadband control system and for supporting mobile telephone connectivity within the passenger vehicle via the vehicle information system.
 19. The vehicle information system of claim 18, wherein said telephone system comprises a PicoCell telephone system for supporting cellular telephone connectivity.
 20. An aircraft, comprising: a fuselage; a plurality of passenger seats arranged within the fuselage; and a vehicle information system-coupled with said fuselage and being provided in accordance with claim
 1. 21. The vehicle information system of claim 1, wherein said switching system inhibits a communication connection from being established between the unauthorized persons and at least one of the personal media device and a secure internal database disposed aboard the passenger vehicle.
 22. A vehicle information system suitable for installation aboard a passenger vehicle and for supporting broadband communications with a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising: a headend system for providing overall system control functions for the vehicle information system; a broadband antenna system; an antenna control system for directing said broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon a comparison of a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; a broadband control system for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via said broadband antenna system; and a content distribution system for distributing selected viewing content received by said broadband control system from the terrestrial content source throughout the vehicle information system, said content distribution system including a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with said broadband control system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point, wherein an operator device is enabled communicate with the broadband control system, wherein a personal media device is enabled to securely present viewing content received from, and to securely transmit payment authorization information to, the terrestrial content source via said wireless access point, the viewing content being streamed to the personal media device, and wherein said switching system prevents unauthorized wireless access to passenger information stored aboard the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.
 23. The vehicle information system of claim 22, wherein the operator device is a crew terminal for controlling a public address system, database control, or power control for one or more of the personal media devices.
 24. The vehicle information system of claim 22, wherein at least one of said broadband antenna system, said switching system, said broadband control system, and said wireless access point is provided as a line replaceable unit.
 25. The vehicle information system of claim 22, wherein the vehicle information system is suitable for installation aboard an aircraft.
 26. An aircraft, comprising: a fuselage; a plurality of passenger seats arranged within the fuselage; and a vehicle information system coupled with said fuselage and being provided in accordance with claim
 22. 27. A method for supporting broadband communications between a vehicle information system disposed aboard a passenger vehicle and a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, comprising: comparing a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; directing a broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon said comparison; establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via the broadband antenna system; distributing selected viewing content received from the terrestrial content source throughout the passenger vehicle information system via a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with the broadband antenna system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; enabling an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to communicate with onboard equipment of the passenger vehicle via the broadband antenna system; enabling a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via the wireless access point; and preventing unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein said directing the broadband antenna system comprises directing the broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system without use of a feedback signal from the broadband antenna system.
 29. The method of claim 27, further comprising: enabling the personal media device to transmit payment authorization information to the terrestrial content source via the preselected satellite communication system; confirming whether the bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source is available; if the bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source is available, securely transmitting the payment authorization information to the terrestrial content source; and, otherwise, confirming whether a purchase amount associated with the payment authorization information is below a predetermined purchase limit value; if the purchase amount is below the predetermined purchase limit value, storing the payment authorization information; and attempting to securely transmit the payment authorization information to the terrestrial content source at a predetermined later time; and otherwise, sending a error message to the personal media device.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein said attempting to securely transmit the payment authorization information includes sending a delayed transmission message to the personal media device.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein said transmitting the payment authorization information to the terrestrial content source includes verifying the payment authorization information.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising transmitting transaction confirmation information to the personal media device.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein said attempting to securely transmit the payment authorization information comprises periodically attempting to securely transmit the payment authorization information.
 34. A computer program product for supporting broadband communications between a vehicle information system disposed aboard a passenger vehicle and a terrestrial content source via a preselected satellite communication system, the computer program product being encoded on one or more machine-readable storage media and excuted by a processor executed by processor comprising: instruction for comparing a position of the vehicle information system with a position of the preselected satellite communication system; instruction for directing a broadband antenna system toward the preselected satellite communication system based upon said comparison; instruction for establishing a bidirectional broadband data connection with the terrestrial content source via the broadband antenna system; instruction for distributing selected viewing content received from the terrestrial content source throughout the passenger vehicle information system via a switching system being segmented into a private switching system for communicating with the broadband antenna system and a public switching system for communicating with a wireless access point; instruction for enabling an operator device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to communicate with onboard equipment of the passenger vehicle via the broadband antenna system; instruction for enabling a personal media device disposed aboard the passenger vehicle to securely communicate with the terrestrial content source via the wireless access point; and instruction for preventing unauthorized wireless access to the vehicle information system by unauthorized persons outside of the passenger vehicle. 